"Now if a (health) plan tries to raise premiums a lot, people can vote with their feet and move to another plan." — Larry Levitt, an insurance expert with the Kaiser Family Foundation, which analyzes health policy issues, on the potential for massive rate increases in 2015.

Superspeedway could get new life

The Nashville Superspeedway could be transformed into a "52-week-a-year venue" featuring a wide array of events beyond just auto racing, according to a plan introduced by the park's new buyer, Nashville-based NeXovation Inc.

Under the terms of the deal announced Thursday, Dover Motorsports and its wholly owned subsidiary Nashville Speedway U.S.A. Inc. will sell the track and some related equipment and assets for $27 million in cash and the assumption of Dover's bond obligations to Wilson County, which total about $18.8 million.

"This is a great deal for all concerned ... as we can transfer an underutilized, high-quality asset to NeXovation, who will create and implement a new business model and reactivate Nashville Superspeedway for the benefit of everyone in the area," said Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn.

Dover, a longtime racetrack operator, had long pitched the Superspeedway, which opened in 2001, as a potential stopping ground for a high-level Sprint Cup NASCAR race, but it could never seal the deal because of the track's limited seating capacity.

While the new owners have a vision, they have no track record for running this type of facility. The NeXovation team made a run at buying the historic Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, but the bid was ultimately rejected earlier this year and a competing bid was accepted by auction organizers. NeXovation has challenged the sale with European Union authorities, but a final decision has not been reached.

AmSurg buying Fla. health care chain for $2.35B

Nashville's AmSurg Corp., which operates a chain of same-day surgery centers, is spending $2.35 billion to purchase Sheridan Healthcare, a Florida company that provides physician services — including radiology, anesthesia and emergency medicine — to hospitals and other health care facilities .AmSurg says the deal, expected to close in the third quarter, will allow the company to tap into a $70 billion market.

The acquisition is happening against the backdrop of Health care reform, which is pushing more care into outpatient surgery centers, such as the ones AmSurg operates. The trend also is causing cost-conscious hospitals to outsource physician services, which is Sheridan's specialty.

"We can do both now," said AmSurg CEO Chris Holden. "There's really no other competitor that has that complement of services to offer."

March marked the highest number of hotel rooms sold in one month in the city's history, surpassing October 2013's record by nearly 7 percent, according to Hendersonville-based Smith Travel Research.

Nashville sold more than 640,000 rooms in March, breaking the October 2013 record. Among the top 25 markets for March, Nashville had the second-largest increases in rooms sold, average daily rate, revenue per available room and hotel revenue. Nashville was in the top five for occupancy growth.

Occupancy tax, a key indicator of performance in the hospitality industry, also experienced growth. That total is up 34 percent as compared with March 2013.

Tourist tax collections topped $4.75 million in March, up 33.9 percent from 2013. This year, the city has collected $31.3 million, up 20.2 percent from a year ago.

"Once again we are seeing unprecedented growth in Nashville's hospitality industry," said Ed Hardy, chairman of the NCVC board of directors. "The numbers are reaching incredible heights. We must focus on sustaining this momentum and keeping Nashville a top destination for years to come."

Developer buys land, plans $75 million high-rise in Gulch

A Nashville developer has a contract to buy 1.8 acres in the Gulch, with plans for a $75 million high-rise building with 330 luxury apartment units.

Crescendo will be the name for a 23-story building that Division Street Land Partners LLC, led by Nashville developer Travis J. Kelty, plans for the property. The site at 641 Division St. has been home to Myers Flooring, a retailer of carpet, hardwood and other products, for the past 13 years.

The Crescendo project also would have space for ground-level retail shops and restaurants, plus an attached 600-space parking garage. The total building is expected to top 350,000 square feet.

Construction is expected to start by year's end, with completion expected in late 2016, Kelty said. The existing building is expected to be torn down, with Myers planning to build a new showroom on the remaining 1.2 acres on the west side of the property. "The design of the building will be consistent with other mixed-use buildings in the Gulch," Kelty said, adding that design schematics is underway, and should be available within a month.

THE NUMBER

Initial projections last year showed that revenue at Vanderbilt University Medical Center would drop by $100 million during the fiscal year ending June 30. However, the latest projections show that the drop will be closer to $170 million.